† 1. a. The action of valuing or appraising; a valuation; lit. and fig. To make no estimate of: to make no account of, not to value. b. The price at which anything is rated; fig. attributed value. Obs.
Shakespeare’s to have estimate in (quot. 1601), seems to mean ‘to have a claim to be considered in the valuation of.’
1563. Golding, Cæsar vi. (1565), 158 b. They make an estimate of their own goods and lay so muche in valew thereunto.
1594. Southwell, M. Magd. Fun. Teares, 92. Love … doubleth the estimate of things that are precious.
1600. Dekker, Gentle Craft, 33. Of my love he makes no estimate.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. i. 183. Thy life is deere, for all that life can rate Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate. Ibid. (1607), Timon, I. i. 14. If he will touch the estimate.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Donner, Hee that giues quickly … Doubles th’ estimate of his gift.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1824), 26. My Ship … is returned to your Shores, furnished … with Merchandize of several estimates.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., I. 106/2.
| They are of farre more estimate and price | |
| Than th’Estrich, or the bird of Paradise. |
a. 1674. Clarendon, Surv. Leviath. (1676), 227. The high estimate they have made of the joies of Heaven.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 90. They will soon lose their Estimate and Delight.
† c. Repute, reputation. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. iii. 56. There stands the Castle,… And in it are the Lords of Yorke, Barkely, and Seymor, None else of Name, and noble estimate. Ibid. (1607), Cor., III. iii. 114. My deere Wiues estimate.
1657. J. Pettus, in Loveday’s Lett. (1663), A 4 a. Seneca’s and Cicero’s Epistles have escap’d, may Loveday’s have the same success and estimate.
2. An approximate judgment based on considerations of probability, respecting the number, amount, magnitude or position of anything; the quantity assigned by such a judgment.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 38. There was an old estimate made of Germany … that … there was not past one twelfth part of it, remaining Catholicke.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. xxxiv. (1682), 118. Drawn up (by our æstimate) about two inches and a half.
1702. R. Nelson, in Pepys’ Diary, VI. 256. There is a design of building a Church … which by estimate will cost [etc.].
1709. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 3. The estimate we make of the distance of objects.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 523. In forming any estimate of the total or yearly value of lands and houses.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, v. § 294. This estimate as to the quantity of rain in the two hemispheres.
b. The Estimates: accounts presented annually to Parliament, showing the probable amount of expenditure on the several administrative departments for the current year.
1732. Gentl. Mag., II. 881. The Accounts for the Year 1731 … and Estimates of Charges on the Articles therein mention’d for the present Year being laid before the House.
1740. Ld. Baltimore, Ibid. X. 586. The Estimate of the Navy … is lower than that which was laid before us the last Session.
1851. Ht. Martineau, Hist. Peace (1877), III. IV. xi. 87. The estimates were reduced half a million.
1887. Daily News, 25 July, 7/1. The Estimates, in fact, should have a fixed appendix.
c. A statement furnished by a builder, contractor, or other tradesman, of the sum for which he is prepared to undertake the execution of a specified piece of work.
1796. Hull Advertiser, 14 May, 2/2. Estimates to be given in on or before the 25th of May.
1829. C. Welch, Wesl. Polity, 158. The various candidates for a contract deliver in estimates.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, I. 121. ‘I wish he had sent the estimate with it,’ said Rosamond.
1878. Print. Trades Jrnl., xxv. 5. The proprietor of a … weekly newspaper sought estimates for its cheaper production.
3. A judgment formed or expressed respecting the character or qualities of a person or thing, or respecting a state of affairs, etc.
1589. Nashe, Pref. Greene’s Menaphon (Arb.), 7. Well may the Adage, Nil dictum quod non dictum prius, bee the most iudiciall estimate, of our latter Writers.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, xi. 11 (J.). A True Estimate upon the Odds betwixt a Publick and a Private Life.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 257, ¶ 9. Outward Actions can never give a just Estimate of us.
1816. in J. Scott, Vis. Paris (ed. 4), 270. The estimate of the French character and condition, given in this volume, is an unfavourable one.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 31. This estimate both of interest and fitness varied from day to day.
b. Estimation; manner in which things are viewed.
1637. R. Humfrey, trans. S. Ambrose, Pref. What is reputed good in the estimate of the world.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Aristocr., Wks. (Bohn), II. 84. The English barons, in every period, have been brave and great, after the estimate and opinion of their times.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, III. xxv. He was not unaware that he had sunk a little in the estimate of the men who had accepted his services.
